I reiterate that it is the exhibitions that I wish to review, that I do not read the reviews to, until after writing. Not all reviews.

It is too easy to be influenced by others’ ideas, style etc. It was the way I was taught, and it works for me.

As for ‘facts’ surely they are gained from visiting the exhibition and research, rather than others’ reviews.

High and Low, yes spurious concepts at the best of times – as the exhibition of that very same name indicated – 1990.

True, Dada, and later Surrealism, turned the Art world on its head – they were, after all, the part of the origins of so-called post-modernism. ‘Art’ became more inclusive of other ideas, other cultures, subjectivity, psychoanalysis.

However for ‘Art’to really be free it had to also break away from the tyranny of Andre Breton. To some extent Salvidor Dali, that showman, egoist and George Bataille pointed the way.

As far as I’m aware of, there will no longer be a project room. Shame.

Best
Simon

I guess how we define ‘high’ is the tricky bit eversince Dada types flipped everything side-up down. In another example, I remain ‘goatse’ and a variety of nicks because I think it allows for me to present my ideas without others and myself worrying who or where in the art scene I am coming from or trying to go. I just want to get my ideas across without prejudice or slef-promotional interest. Excuse me again if it came across as mere mud slinging and personal attacks. I am very interested to hear more on your ideas on art.

Since we’ve already migrated our mini debate, I would also like to add that my position on ‘reviews’ is also the opposite of yours. Normally, I would not read wall labels, artist, or curator’s texts either but in the case of a review, i think it would be more interesting that after the initial ‘innocent eye’ viewing of the show, I’d scrutinize the published literature. It’s necessary simply to verify basic facts that will be retransmitted to the viewer, as well as to allow for more communal debate over culture. Of course, it’s not necessary to do this all the time, probably not necessary at all for a free blog submission, but I wouldn’t be brave as to use the word ‘never’.

At the risk of being called a ’snob’ yet again, I didn’t feel that the annex was a suitable venue for such an up-market gallery.

No disrespect to Central Market Annex, but it is telling that I have been there once, recently, and to the Bangsar gallery many many times, even though, technically, for me, it is more difficult to reach.